We call to mind the youths of the 1991 generation, many of whom are today
married. Today, we rememeber the actions of the youths in November 1991, as
having been very politically important for our struggle against foreign
occupation.

On 12th November 1991, the youths held a peaceful demonstration to show the
world the aspirations of all the people of Timor for the right to
self-determination. It was a peaceful demonstration which the occupying
government responded with guns, beatings, arrests and killings.

Once again, I would like to state that the 12th November should not continue
to be a day for mourning and tears but rather a day for Reflection. Reflection
on human rights; on freedom of expression; on freedom of opinion and on
democracy.

Many of our fellow citizens died on the 12th November 1991, defending
independence. This is a fact but they also accepted to spill their blood, for us
not to forget the freedom we fought for during our struggle for
self-determination.

For this reason, every 12th November should become an important Day of
Reflection for the youths. The children of today may not know the true history
of the 12th November. Some may have only heard of a massacre which took place at
the Santa-Cruz cemetery, and so they think mainly of lighting candles and of
praying.

The 12th November should develop and enhance pride in the hearts and minds of
the Youths.

Dear compatriots

Today, in an independent nation, what we all ask for is how to achieve
prosperity quickly for ourselves, without making the effort to study, to work or
to even participate well in any activity around us.

On 12th November 1991, in order to defend the rights of the people, the
youths organized a demonstration, without concern and fear for the consequences
they would face for their actions.

In August and September 1999, the youths again displayed their courage to
confront various dangers. This showed that the youths did not know how to
retreat from what they believed to be their duty.

Today, in this new era of independence, we shall search and follow the same
notion of obligation of the youths. Our independence is still difficult, because
our capacity is still limited and because our process is still fragile in
various aspects.

All these reasons make me think that it is better for the 12th November to be
a Day of Reflection for the Youths. And if we speak of reflection, every year,
we will identify issues on which to reflect, consider and discuss. If not, year
after year, all we will do is just light candles.

The 12th November is a day in which the youths can seize to gain Unity on a
Vision for the future. We speak of the future and we always mention that the
children are the real treasure of Timor Lorosa’e, but the youths themselves
have yet to find a platform on which to debate their future.

Perhaps on 12th November, if the youths can forget groupism, forget
regionalism, and forget each other’s differences, then this can be an
important step towards building the future.

If this were to happen, then in twenty or thirty year’s time, we can expect
the children who are not of the 1991 or 1999 generation, to still search for
each other, to gather together, united in one vision for our country.

Dear compatriots

These days, many youths belong to parties and are divided. In a democratic
society, people can have differences of opinions but the major objective is to
serve our country, and therefore we have to bring the whole of society together
to defend this one objective.

It is very easy to speak about serving our country. But today we can see that
each one is only interested in serving themselves. In many countries which
gained freedom through war, as soon as the colonial rulers left, the people
themselves began to behave as the colonialists. The power which was in the hands
of the colonialists, once transferred to the people, was execised in a manner
similar to the colonialists, if not the same. This happens in all newly
independent countries. This is a fact which we can see in all the processes in
Africa, America and also in Asia.

During the Indonesian time, we all shouted about corruption, about KKN
(Indonesian acronym for Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism). Especially we, who
participated in the struggle, when the Indonesians targeted us, we knew how to
shout and stand up for our rights. Today, perhaps because we are governing
ourselves, these attitudes have re-emerged among us. Today, just because you are
a member of parliament or a member of the government or a member of a large
political party, should not mean that you use the power left by the
colonialists, which is now in our hands, for personal gains.

Dear compatriots

Our independence process is still fragile, still long, not only for State
Institutions but also for all other aspects of human rights, democracy and
social justice.

It is because of all this, that I state that the 12th November should be an
Important Day of Reflection for the Youths to reflect on the political, social
and economic aspects of our daily lives.

If the youths bear in their minds that they should think, discuss, speak and
express, then they will not be properly prepared to one day receive the enormous
task of holding the destiny of our country.

Today, we see that the youths only prepare themselves by studying at school.
And what comes to their minds first is to get a good job, because their parents
spent a lot of money for their studies.

Not only in secondary school, but especially in Univeristy, all students must
have a notion about Democracy, Human Rights and the Constitution.

Some youths are currently working in different NGOs, to ensure that the truth
reaches the people. However, we need to organize activities for the youths
themselves to make the children grow stronger physically and mentally, and
especially to make them think and understand the process and be able to assume
responsibility.

If not, we will not prepare people to be subjects in the process but rather
only as objects of the process; objects that just wait to see whether they can
get a job or not.

Therefore, I would like to ask all the youths, from the generation of 91 to
the generation of 99, together with the younger generation who are attending
school, to profoundly think on this.

The youths need to acquire an appropriate mentality in order to improve the
mentality of the whole society. The youths need to think and behave well in
order to improve the thinking and actions of the whole of society.

All changes in the world come from the new generation, a new generation which
is smarter and more responsible.

This is my message for this year. I hope that next year the Youths of Timor
Lorosae will have gained new attitudes on how best to commemorate 12th November,
by honoring that day with the right significance and objective